FLUSH FACE FITTINGS

flINTLOCK · Dec 9, 2007

My QD's for the grapple are always a pain in the back pocket to connect/disconnect. Doesn't seem to be related to dirt or pressure. It's difficult when completely unpressurized. My local hydraulic shop showed me some flush face QD's that he says should correct problem. Not cheap, but worth it to me if they work as advertised. Any experience out there with the FF QD's??

Soundguy · Dec 9, 2007

All the hyd people ( sellers ) push them.

I guess if ya have trouble with the other kind.. it's worth your money.

I have no problem with qd's.. old or new.. so it's not worth my money.

Soundguy

RickB · Dec 9, 2007

I am not sure they will cure your problem. Coupling difficulty is most often related to one of four problems.
1. Foreign matter
2. Pressure
3. One half of the coupler not securely mounted
4. Misalignment (see #3 above)
Flat face couplers came about not for ease of coupling, but for greater flow characteristics. Because they have larger poppets than a similar size Pioneer style coupler pair, they flow more oil. The larger poppets also mean HIGHER effort to couple under a given pressure than a different coupler with a smaller poppet. They stay cleaner by design and flow more oil with less pressure drop, but I'll bet you won't notice any improvement in coupling effort.

Wayne County Hose · Dec 9, 2007

Some of the new style flush face q.d.'s are made to connect and disconnect under pressure. The ones he showed you are probably this style. If you get them, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. They have higher flow and pressure rates and are generally a much better quality, longer lasting product. The pain you have in attaching and removing should be greatly reduced with the flush face.

flINTLOCK · Dec 14, 2007

Yea, he said they were self relieving or something like that to reduce the pressure that might impede coupling. I don't know for sure, my original couplers may have been damaged at the dealership, who knows. Problem definitely not dirt unless brake cleaner, wipe, WD 40, followed by another wipe is not sufficient to clean.

flINTLOCK · Dec 19, 2007

Followup report on these fittings is all good so far. Have dismounted grapple several times and reattached without hint of difficulty with FF QD's. Will never know whether the originals were slightly defective or exactly why they were a PITA

Wayne County Hose · Dec 19, 2007

I just talked to Steve down at Industrial Hose. I didn't know you are about 1/4 mile from him. You could drive your tractor to Steve as he does steel lines too.
If you got those q.d.s from tractor jon on your new tractor, I would bring them back for warranty. Just tell him that you had a problem and got them locally. He should give you a new set.

If nobody knows what I'm talking about, don't worry, neither do I.

RickB · Dec 19, 2007

flINTLOCK said:
Followup report on these fittings is all good so far. Have dismounted grapple several times and reattached without hint of difficulty with FF QD's. Will never know whether the originals were slightly defective or exactly why they were a PITA

So I learned a little today as well. I shouldn't mind being wrong if the parts you bought meet your expectations.